Rotary engine.



PATENTED-OGT. 27, 1903.

L. TEAL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 16, .1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

H0 HODEL.

auzsiZiea/z No. 742,369; PATENTED' 001". 27, 19 3.

L. TEAL.

ROTARY ENGINE. v APILIOAT'ION FILED AUG. 16, 1902:

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v gmawiaz QX i uTHu. wAsHwcTm n L No. 742,369. 'PATENTED v0071. 27,1903'.

L. TEAL; ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1902 v N0 MODEL. 6SHEETSSH EE TB.

r O A a wax newsman Q Q IazaaiZaZ PATENTED OCT. 2'7, 1903.

L. TEAL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1902 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

R0 MODEL.

fiwezzzr a3 aZ YPATENTED 001?. 27, 1903.

L. TEAL.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED we. 16, 1902 I No. 742,369.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

'fizyezzi%r jaw Zal l y UNITED STATES Patented October 27, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 742,369, dated October27, 1903.

Application filed August 16, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS TEAL, a citizen of the United States, residingat Clifton Heights, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania,have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to rotary engines in which steam, gas, vapor, orother expansible substance is employed as the motive agent, the objectof the invention being to provide novel means for automaticallyregulating the admission of steam or other motive agent to theexpansion-chamber or cylinder of the engine, according to the speed atwhich the engine is running.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novelfeatures thereof will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is anelevation of an engine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same with the governor in section. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is asimilar section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective viewof the admission -valve and the parts connected therewith for impartinglongitudinal movement thereto. Fig. 7 is a detail end view of one of thetwo-lobed pistons, and Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showingmodifications of the construction and arrangement of the pistons. I

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The cylinder or expansion-chamber 1 has been shown in the form of twointersecting longitudinally-extending cylindrical recesses 2 3 in thecasing, and communicating with said chamber on. one side at theintersection of said recesses is an inlet-port 4. Leading from saidcylinder or chamber at the point of intersection of the recesses 2 and 3on the side opposite the inlet-port 4 is an exhaust-port 5. Mounted torevolve within the cylinder or expansion-chamber 1 are the pistons 6 and7, the same being secured, respectively, to shafts S and 9, which extendthrough the opposite ends of the casing in which said cylinder orexpansion-chamber is formed. The shafts Serial No. 119,919. (No model.)

8 and 9 are located, respectively, at the centers of the cylindricalrecesses 2 and 3 and are of course separated from each other by adistance less than the mean diameter of said recesses. structed andarranged that during their rotation they will move in close contact witheach other at all points and in close contact with the inner plane andcurved walls of the cylindrical recesses 2 and 3. To provide for theclose working contact at all times between the pistons 6 and 7 and thecylindrical recesses 2 and 3, in which they move, and between theopposing faces of said pistons, said pistons are shaped as shown in thedrawings.

In Figs. 4 and 7 each piston has been shown as provided with twolobes,produced by forming thereon two oppositely-disposed concave faces10 and 11 and two oppositely-disposed convex faces 12 and 13. Thecurvature of each of the faces 12 and 13 is that of a completeepicycloid formed upon the pitch-circle 14, and the curvature of each ofthe faces 10 and 11 is that of a hypocycloid formed upon thepitch-circle 1.4. The circular arcs 1 5 16, 16 17,17 18,and 18 15 areall equal. The are 15 16 plus 16 17 and the arc 17 18 plus 18 15 aretherefore both equal to one-half circle. I may employ instead of twotwo-lobed pistons 6 and 7, constructed as above described, twothreelobed pistons 6 and 7 or one two-lobed piston 6 and a three-lobedpiston 7, cooperating therewith. Each of the convex portions of thethree-lobed pistons 6 and 7 a has the curvature of an epicycloid formedupon the pitch-circle 14 ,and each of the concave portions of thepistons 6 and 7 has the curvature of a hypocycloid formed upon thepitch-circle 14. The circular arcs 19 20, 20 21, 21 22, 22 23, 23 24,and 24 19 are all equahand the arcs 19 20 21,21 22 23, and 23 24 19 areall equal to one third of a circle. 7

The operation of the modified form and arrangement of pistons abovereferred to isv identical with that of the preferred form of myinvention. (Shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.) In the casing of thedevice,adjacent to the cylinder or expansion-chamber 1, is a cylindricalvalve-chamber 25, with which communicates a pipe 26 for the supply ofsteam, gas, or other equivalent motive agent to said valve-chamber, thesaid pipe 26 leading from The pistons 6 and 7 are so cona boiler orother source of supply. The inletport 4 leads from the valve chamber 25,as clearly shown inFigs. 4and 5 of the drawings. Mounted in thevalve-chamber 25 is a hollow rotary longitudinally-movableadmissionvalve 27, the same having secured to it and extendinglongitudinally in opposite directions therefrom a valve-stem 28. Thesaid stem 28 closes one end of the hollow valve 27 and extends throughthe opposite ends of the valve-chamber 25. On one of its projecting endssaid valve-stem is provided with a gear or pinion 29. At its oppositeend said valvestem has a swivel connection with a pair of levers 30,fulcrumed at their upper ends upon a pin or projection 31, secured tothe casing or framework of the device. Through the gear or pinion 29rotary movement is imparted to the valve 27, and through the levers 30longitudinal movement is imparted to said valve. The said valve isprovided with a series of ports 32, adapted to register successivelywith the port 4 during the rotation of said valve, so as to admit steamor other fluid under pressure to the cylinder or expansion-chamber 1.lVhen the valve 27 is in its normal position, the ports 32 registerthroughout their entire lengths with the port 4. Vhen, however, thevalve 27 is moved longitudinally, said ports 32 will be partially orwholly cut off by the imperforate portion of the valve-chamber 25,according to the extent or degree of longitudinal movement which isimparted to said valve. It will thus be seen that by moving the valve 27longitudinally to a greater or less extent the volume of steam or othermotive fluid admitted to the cylinder or expansionchamber 1 through theport 4 may be controlled.

ln Fig. 4 of the drawings the pistons 6 and 7 are shown in position toreceive steam from the valve-chamber 25 through one of the valve-ports32 and the admission-port 4, one of the ports 32 in the valve 27 beingjust at the point of opening. As the steam enters the cylinder orexpansion chamber 1 through the port 4 it acts upon the pistons 6 and 7to rotate the same in the direction of the arrows shown, the end of thepiston 7 at this time serving as the abutment. At this time the passageof steam to the cylindrical recess 3 is cut off. \Vhen the valve 27 hasmoved so that the port 32 is just closed, the pistons G and 7 will havemade a little less than onefourth of a complete rotation and the spacewithin the cylindrical recess 3 adjacent to the port 4 will be connectedwith the space adjacent to said port between the piston 6 and thecylindrical recess 2. The steam now acts expansively until the pistons 6and 7 have moved to complete a one-fourth turn from the point ofstarting, at which time another one of the ports 32 in the valve 27reaches its opening position. The steam included between the piston Gand the cylinder or expansion-chamber 1 is now dead and that includedbetween the piston 7 and said cyl- .ment of the arms 42 between them.

inder or expansion chamber is escaping through the exhaust-port 5. Asthe next valve-port 32 opens the operation above described is repeated,except that the relative positions of the pistons (3 and 7 are reversed.

The shaft 8 of the piston (3 is provided 011 one end with a gear orpinion 33, which meshes with a corresponding gear or pinion 34 on theshaft 9 of the piston 7. The oppo- .site end of the shaft 8 is providedwith a gear or pinion 35, meshing with a corresponding gear or pinion 36on the shaft 9. The shafts 8 and 9, and consequently the pistons 6 and7, are thereby intergeared with each other, so that they rotate inunison simultaneously and in opposite directions. The shaft 9 is alsoprovided adjacent to the gear or pinion 36 thereon with a gear 37, whichmeshes with a corresponding gear 38, secured to a hollow shaft 39,mounted in suitable bearings beneath the valve-chamber 25. The shaft 39is also provided with a gear 40, located directly beneath the gear 29 onthe valvestem 28 and meshing therewith. By this construction it will beseen that the motion of the shafts 8 and 9 of the pistons 6 and 7 istransmitted through the gearing described to the valve 27. The saidvalve is therefore constantly rotated through the operation of theengine to admit steam or other motive fluid from the supplypipe 26through the valve-chamber 25 and the ports 32 and 4 to the cylinder orexpansion-chamber 1.

The means for automatically controlling the position of the valve 27 inthe valvechamber 25 and for automatically moving said valvelongitudinally in said chamber as the speed of the engine increases ordecreases consists of a governor made up of a yoke 41, secured to thehollow shaft 39 and rotated thereby, arms 42, pivoted to said yoke andadapted to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force, a head 43, and arod 44, the said rod extending through the hollow shaft 39, having aswivel connection with the head 43 and pivotally connected at itsopposite end to the levers 30. The yoke 41 has a hub 45, which surroundsthe hollow shaft 39 and is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Saidyoke is also provided at its opposite ends with ears or projections 46,extending in the direction of the length of the shaft 39 and havingpivoted thereto the arms 42. The said ears or projections are arrangedin pairs the members of which are separated from each other to providefor the location and move- The free ends of the arms 42 are providedwith weights 47, and the inner ends of said arms adjacent to theirpivots are provided with segmental gears 48. Said arms 42 haveprojecting laterally therefrom the pins 49, to which are connected thesprings 50 for resisting the outward movement of said arms and forreturning the same to their normal positions. The

segmental gears 48 on the arms 42 mesh with the racks 51 on oppositeends of the head 43,

so that when said arms 42 are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force theywill serve to move the head 43 longitudinally of the device toward thehollow shaft 39. The head 43 is supported and guided in its movements bythe screws 52, which are secured to the yoke 41 and extend throughopenings in said head. The heads 53 of said screws serve to limit theoutward movement of the head 43, whereas the inward movement of saidhead 43 is limited by its engagement with the body portion or base ofthe yoke 41. The swivel connection between the rod 44 and the head 43may be effected in any suitable way. I have, however, shown the collars54 55 on the rod 44 located on opposite sides of a plate 56, secured tothe head 43, but separated therefrom by the spacing-blocks 57 to providefor the location of the collar 55 between said plate 56 and the body ofsaid head. The opening in the plate 56 through which the reduced end ofthe rod 44 passes is of course of smaller diameter than the collars 54and 55. The rod 44, as heretofore stated, is pivotally connected at theend opposite the collars 54 55 thereon with the free ends of the levers30. Then, therefore, during the operation of the engine the arms 42 arethrown outwardly by centrifugal force, due to the rapid rotation of theyoke 41, which is con nected with the rotary shaft 39, the head 43 ofthe governor will be moved inwardly toward the shaft 39 and will imparta longitudinal movement to the rod 44. hen this is done, the levers 30will be rocked on their fulcrum 31, and the valve 27, which is connectedthrough its stem 28 to said levers 30, will be moved longitudinally inthe valve-chamber 25, in which it operates. The effect of this will beto reduce the effective size of each of the ports 32 or of the port 4and consequently reduce the quantity of steam or other motive agentwhich is admitted to the cylinder or expansion-chamber 1 through saidport 4. The speed of operation of the engine will then be reduced to thepoint at which it is desired to maintain the same. If the speed of theengine falls below that at which it is desired to maintain it, thesprings 50, acting upon the arms 45, will swing said arms on theirpivots, so as to return them to a greater or less extent toward theirnormal positions. When this is done, the operation of the parts abovedescribed will be reversed-that is to say, the head 43 of the governorwill be moved outwardly and a corresponding longitudinal movement willbe imparted to the rod 44, which is connected therewith. The levers 30will then be moved on their fulcrum, so as to move the valve 27 in adirection opposite that above described. The effect of this will be toincrease the active size of the ports for the admission of steam to thecylinder or expansion-chamber and thereby bring about an increase in thespeed of the engine itself.

The governor described thus acts to maintain a constant uniform speed ofthe engine at all times.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine, a valve-chamber, a supply-pipe for a motive agentcommunicating therewith, a cylinder or expansion-chamber having a portleading therefrom and communicating with said valve-chamber, a rotaryvalve in said valve-chamber having ports therein adapted-to registerwiththe port between said valve-chamber and said cylinder, a hollowshaft rotated by said engine, a governor rotated by said shaft, and arod connected with the movable part of said governor, extending throughsaid hollow shaft, and operatively connected with said valve forautomatically imparting longitudinal movement thereto, as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, a valve-chamber, a supply-pipe for a motive agentcommunicating therewith, a cylinder or expansion-chamber having a portleading therefrom and communicating with said valve-chamber, a rotaryvalve in said valve-chamber having ports therein adapted to registerwith the port between said valve-chamber and said cylinder, a hollowshaft rotated by said engine, a governor connected with said hollowshaft, rotated thereby, and having a longitudinallymovable head, and arod extending through said hollow shaft, having a swivel connection withsaid head and operatively connected with said valve for automaticallymoving the latter longitudinally, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a rotary engine, a valve-chamber, a supply-pipe for a motive agentcommunicating therewith, a cylinder or expansion-chamber havinga portleading therefrom and communicating with said valve-chamber, a rotaryvalve in said valve-chamber having ports therein adapted to registerwith the port between said valve-chamber and said cylinder, a hollowshaft rotated by said engine, and a governor connected with said hollowshaft,

'rotated thereby, and operatively connected with said valve forautomatically imparting longitudinal movement thereto, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a rotary engine, a valve-chamber, a supply-pipe for a motive agentcommunicating therewith, a cylinder or expansion-chamber having a portleading therefrom and communicating with said valve-chamber, a rotaryvalve in said valve-chamber having a port or ports therein adapted toregister with the port between said valvechamber and said cylinder, ahollow shaft rotated by said engine, a governor rotated by said shaft, arod connected with the movable part of said governor extending throughsaid hollow shaft, and a lever to which said rod is connected, saidlever being rotatively connected with said valve.

5. In a rotary engine, a valve-chamber, a supply-pipe for a motive agentcommunicating therewith, a cylinder or expansion-eha1nber having a portleading therefrom and commnnicatin g with said valve-chamber, a rotaryvalve in said valvechamber having ports adapted to register with theport between said valve-chamber and said cylinder, a governor rotated bysaid engine, a lever rotatively con- :0 nected between its ends withsaid valve and fulerunied at one end, and a rod connected with the otherend of said lever and operable by the movable part of the said governor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

LOUIS TEAL. W'itnesses:

WALTER II. JACKSON, WILLIAM 0. Porn.

